Aeroplane propeller



May 20, 1930. 'c. E. SMITH AEROPLANE PROPELLER Filed Sept. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmni ot May 20, 1930. c. .E. SMITH 1,759,468

AERCPLANE PROPELLER Filed Sept. 1928 zwsheets-sneet 2 mark 5*- El mil/F Patented May 1930 PATENT;- OFFICE CHARLES E. smiurrnor onovrnnn, CALIFORNIA AEROPLANE PROPELLER Application filed September 5, 1928. Serial No.i304,043.

This invention relates to an aeroplane pro peller, and it is of the type of the helical flat blade propeller, with a'propeller syn1n1etri-' cally placed upon each side of the engine, with respect to the wings of the aeroplane. The propellers are carried by a single shaft which shaft is operated upon at its center by the engine to rotate it. The blades of the propeller are reversally arranged so that the air is taken into the propeller adjacent to the engine, directed laterally and of course, as it leaves the propeller travels leewardly with respect to the planes- Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide means whereb the propulsive effect of the propeller may be regulated by covering or uncovering a portion of the spiral blade,

.of each propeller, there being an independently movable hood over each propeller to effect this result, as well as to aid in turning the machine.

It willbe understood that as the present.

invention relates only, to the propeller that any desired operating controls may be used in connection with the machine, but such controls do not form a part of the present invention and are hence. not illustrated. The propellers may have one, two or more blades as desired.

' as the description proceeds. ,But in \the accompanying drawings, Figpfre '1 is a plan view of the complete aeroplane with a portion' of the upper wing broken away for purposeof illustration.

Figure 2 is a side aeroplane.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the upper wing.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the propeller adjacent to theengine the movable shell being thrown back to .show the propeller blade.

The numerals 1 and 2 indicate the ground wheels of the aeroplane, which ground wheels are connected to the fuselage 3 bv H means of suitable struts 4 and 5 in such nuni her as may be requisite. At the rear of the tail of the fuselage there is the sprag 6, to

aid in bringing the aeroplane to earth when Other-objects of the invention will a ear elevation of the complete it lands. On each side of the fuselagethero is a lower wing as indicated at 7. and 8. These wings are connected to the fuselage at their inner ends and there are suitable other struts as indicated at 9 and 10, with bracing wires 11 and 12, in such number as may be requisite to give the necessary stifi'ness to the marhine. and to the upper wing 13.

The upper wing 13 has the movable ailerons 14 and 15 at the back edges, common to the art and at the center it is provided with a space to receive the engine cylinders 16. The engine is supported by two braces 18 and 19 which serve toconnect it to the front edge of the wings 1 3, and to the braces 9 on opposite sides of the engine. W

. Extending laterally from both sides of the engine there is a shaft 20. Said shaft having flat .spiral propeller blades on them as indicated at 21, 22, and so arranged as to cause i the air impinging upon the blades at the center to travel longitudinally thereof and to be discharged from the propeller either downwardly or 'at their end. The propeller shaft is journalled in bearings 23 23 at the inner ends of the propeller while they are carried by journals 24, 2-1 at their outer ends. The propellers are journalled at the front edge of the upper wing and extending longitudinally thereof. Both wings are of the parabolic type, which are thicker at their front edge than at any other portion, and in the present case theyare slightly thicker than usual to produce a more or less cylindrical chamber within which the propeller blades are installed. This cylindrical chamber is provided with the shell 27 at its top above the propeller and in addition there is the movable cylindrical shell 28, 28' over each propell'er. I

lhe movable cylindrical shells are for the purpose of acting as guards to reduce the quantity of air impinging upon the propellers and they are held normally, in the position shown in Figure 3, by means of the stiff springs 29, 29 which tend to pull the levers 30, 30 up to the normal position. The levers 30, 30' are ordinarilyconnected to the control apparatus of the aeroplane none of which is shown in the present instance.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows With an aeroplane equipped with suitable controls, the engine is started and the propellers thus are rotated with the result that air is taken rapidly from the position near the engine and extended laterally. The paddling of the air withitlie propellers being-sutiieient to cause it a slight lift. If the speed forward be fast enough the aeroplane willtravel over ground fast enough to lift itself and gradually soar-away.

The cables and other controls for operating the machine are not illustrated as they form no partof the presentinvention.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows, express modifications being reserved of matter within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. An aeroplane propeller comprising an aeroplane having supporting wings, a right and left spiral blade propeller each installed adjacent to and on each side of the longitudinal center of the upper wing and liavinga pocket within which said propellers can operto partially cover the corresponding aeroplane propeller.

3. An aeroplane propeller ofthe class described comprising an aeroplane wing, means to mount a rotatable shaft along the front edge of said wing, an engine adaptedto turn said shaft, a right and left spiral blade propeller on each end of said shaft, a stationary hood adapted to cover the upper portion of said propeller, a hood pivoted on said shaft and normally covering the upper portion of said propellers, and means to rotate said hood down to cover more or less of the propeller blades.

4. An aeroplane propeller comprising a driven shaft arranged in alignment with the front edge of the plane wing, oppositely directed spiral vanes on the opposite ends of said shaft respectively, hoods extending from the edge of said wing over the upper portion of said vanes, casings within said hoods said shaft respectively adapted to operate in concave chambers in said wing overhanging the upper portion of said vanes, and cylindrical casings adapted to cover the lower portions of said vanes. 4

6. In combination with an aeroplane hav-' ing a wing with a longitudinal chamber in the front edge thereof, a'propeller in said chamher and means for opening and closing the lower portion of said chamber.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. this 30th day of August, A. D. 1928.

- CHARLES E. SMITH.

adapted to be extended beneath the lower portion of said vanes. I

- 5. An aeroplane propeller comprising a v driven shaft arranged in alignment with the frol'r't' edge of the plane wing, oppositely directed spiral vanes on the opposite ends of 

